4 Tips on How to Prioritize Your Schedule

Our schedules, how we love them, yet despise them. They help us make sure we don’t forget anything, yet often times our schedules start to run us. If you’re like me, you find yourself barely having any time for the things you want to do because your schedule has become packed with things you believe you have to do.

For my family, we found ourselves stuck in that same situation after we had Lydia. We wanted to just spend time with family. We wanted to just have a day to relax and no one talk to us. You ever want that type of day? I started to see what would work best for our family. Thankfully, God provided the internet and thousands of ideas.

I wanted to condense them and give you the top five ones that worked for our family. I pray they work for yours. If not, no worries each family is different and you find what is best for your family.

1. Make an inventory of your schedule

This is a little time consuming, but something I found super eye-opening. I snagged this idea from Jefferson Bethe during a podcast episode of “That Sounds Fun” with Annie F. Downs. (If you want some christian inspiration check these guys out!)

What you do is write down each item on your schedule on its own separate notecard. For example, work would be it’s own notecard and bible study would have its own. Once you have all of your items listed, rank them from 1-4. 1 being this doesn’t hold a lot of value to me and 4 being I value this a lot. For example, maybe church is a 4, but coffee and donuts afterwards is a 2. Write it down on the card. Let each of your family members have a go at it. You’ll find it’s super eye opening.

Once they have all been numbered, only keep the 4’s on your schedule. If you prefer the 3 and 4’s you may, but that’s up to your family. Maybe you’ll realize that one bible study brings you a lot of value, while another one you feel you have to attend and doesn’t bring you joy. Get rid of it.

Biggest lesson: It’s okay to say, “No.” It’s okay to say I’m already in a bible study, or a mom’s group, or a playdate rotation. It’s okay. You don’t have to do it all. Promise. Only Jesus did that. 🙂

2. Find a scheduler/planner that works for your family

This is different for every family. You may find you like electronic planners and Google Calendar is perfect for you. Maybe you like the big planner, stuck to the kitchen fridge, for all the family to see. You may also like the basic paper planners that you’re able to write in. You find what works for you.

For my family, we’ve found that we both prefer something different. I like having my paper planner (Erin Condren for the win!) and my husband likes to have his on his phone. Since we are both different, we usually spend some time on Sunday discussing what our week holds. We also discuss at the beginning of the month what is coming up. This requires a lot of communication on our part, but we found it’s what works best. You find what works best for your family. Test options out!

3. Get comfortable saying, “Let me check my schedule.”

This saying has saved my schedule. So many times, we would be invited places or asked to help with an event and I’d have no idea what our schedule had for that day. In sweet Faith form, I would say, “Yep! Sounds great.” To then go back to my schedule and find that I had two other obligations on for that day. Next thing I knew, our weekend was jammed with commitments and no family time.

Now, I find that by saying, “Let me check my schedule.” I am able to make sure I can be present during those events or if I need to politely decline. Friend, it’s okay to say no. It’s okay to admit that three obligations in one day is too much for you. This doesn’t mean you’re weak or not committed. Don’t let the devil tell you differently.

4. Practice Sabbath

Before I get too into this, I must admit our family still struggles with this. Yet, we try very hard to make it work. Sure, we still have days were something comes up, but can I just say it’s so much better now. Practicing the Sabbath is where you take one day and you don’t plan anything. Unless, it brings you joy. Family outing? Go for it! Have no obligations and stay in your jammies all day, playing board games? You bet! It’s a day you focus on family.

For my family, we do this on Sundays. We attend church, eat some lunch, and take naps. We may play a board game or go to the park. It’s a day we set aside for family. Again, we aren’t perfect with it, but when we do it our week is so much better.

The Benefits of Prioritizing Your Schedule

By doing these things, you can find that your schedule becomes filled with things you enjoy. You no longer feel rushed or overwhelmed because you have made the intentional point to control what is placed in your schedule. You’ve found yourself getting rid of the “clutter” and instead, have time to serve the people next to you. By freeing up your schedule, maybe you have time to speak with the lady at the grocery store. Maybe you are able to bring comfort to a friend when she calls you on the phone, now that you aren’t rushing out the door.

May these tips be a blessing to you. Remember, just because they worked for my family doesn’t mean they have to work for yours. Find what works best and go for it! 🙂

Pray it’s a blessing!